Branching Out
Links to Explore

Jump To:

OGS Databases

Records by Topic

World Genealogy

Special Collections​​

Partner Sites

We have developed this list of resource links to help you explore your family history.

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list but hopefully it will spark some ideas to add to your understanding of your ancestors.

Most of these links are to external websites and therefore The Ontario Genealogical Society is not responsible for their content. 

If you discover a broken link or have suggestions for sites that are not listed here, please email [email protected]

OGS-OWNED RESOURCES​
OGS Databases & Tools

Databases and research tools hosted and maintained by the Ontario Genealogical Society. These are your best starting point for Ontario genealogy.

TONI — Ontario Name Index

Search thousands of Ontario genealogy records indexed by OGS branches across the province.

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OGS Library / Master Catalogue

Search the full OGS library collection including books, periodicals, and digitized family histories.

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Vita Collections

Digitized OGS publications, family histories, and unique primary source collections.

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MyHeritage Portal
Members Only

Exclusive OGS member access to the full MyHeritage database — billions of records worldwide.

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Ontario Cemetery Locator

Find cemeteries across Ontario with name indexes and location data contributed by OGS branches.

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Land Records List

Comprehensive list of Ontario land record sources with descriptions and direct links.

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Complete List of Society Databases
ResourceAccessNote
Canadian Genealogist 1979–1986FreeOGS
Channel Islands SIGMembersComing Soon
Clergy Directory & Parish Histories — RC Diocese of LondonMembersOGS
Families Magazine ArchiveMembersOGS
Heritage SocietiesMembersComing Soon
House of Worship Photo CollectionFreeOGS
Huguenot CollectionFreeBeing Updated
IOOF Insurance Papers DatabaseMembersBeing Updated
Land Records ListFreeOGS
Library / OGS Master CatalogueFreeOGS
Memorial ProjectFreeOGS
MyHeritage PortalMembersOGS
Ontario Cemetery LocatorFreeOGS
OGS Provincial IndexFMP Subscriptionvia FindMyPast
Ontario Place LocatorFreeBeing Updated
Research FormsMembersOGS
Strays DatabaseMembersOGS
TONI — Ontario Name IndexFreeOGS
Unregistered CemeteriesFreeOGS
Upper Canada Land Petitions 1763–1865FreeOGS
Vernon DirectoriesFreeOGS
Vita CollectionsFreeOGS
Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal IndexFreeComing Soon
Woman’s Institute BranchesFreeOGS
ONTARIO RECORDS
Browse Ontario Records by Topic

Each tab links to a dedicated table of curated Ontario resources for that subject. For archives, religious records, and specialty collections that span all regions, see Specialized Collections ↓

ResourceAccessSource
Black History Association of LondonFreeExternal
Black Loyalists Heritage CentreFreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
Bereavement Authority of OntarioFreeExternal
BillionGravesFreeExternal
Commonwealth War Graves CommissionFreeExternal
Find A GraveFreeExternal
Interment.netFreeExternal
Memorial ProjectFreeOGS
Ontario Cemetery LocatorFreeOGS
Ontario Unregistered Cemeteries (OGS Database)FreeOGS
TONI — Ontario Name IndexFreeOGS
Vita Collections (OGS)FreeOGS
ResourceAccessSource
BMS 2000FreeExternal
Essex Franco-Ontarien CentreFreeOGS
Filles du RoiFreeExternal
Généalogie QuébecFreeExternal
Grosse-Île — Library and Archives CanadaFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
FamilySearch Wiki — QuébecFreeFamilySearch
PRDH — Programme de recherche en démographie historiqueFreeExternal
Québec E SociétéFreeExternal
Réseau du Patrimoine de Gatineau et de l’OutaouaisFreeExternal
Réseau du Patrimoine Franco-Ontarien (RPFO)FreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
Archeion — Ontario Archives DirectoryFreeExternal
Community Heritage OntarioFreeExternal
Federated Women’s Institute of OntarioFreeExternal
Law Society of OntarioFreeExternal
Multicultural History Society of OntarioFreeExternal
Ontario Archive AssociationFreeExternal
Ontario Heritage TrustFreeExternal
Ontario Historical SocietyFreeExternal
Ontario Museum AssociationFreeExternal
United Empire Loyalists Association of CanadaFreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
Immigration
Archives of Ontario — Immigration RecordsFreeArchives of Ontario
British Home Children Special Interest GroupFreeOGS
Home Children CanadaFreeExternal
Immigration Records — Library and Archives CanadaFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
Ontario Emigration & Immigration RecordsFreeFamilySearch
Pier 21 — Canadian Museum of ImmigrationFreeExternal
Census
Automated GenealogyFreeExternal
Canadian Online Census RecordsFreeOGS
Census Records — Library and Archives CanadaFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
TONI — Ontario Name IndexFreeOGS
ResourceAccessSource
Hudson Bay Company ArchivesFreeExternal
Indigenous History — Library and Archives CanadaFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
Métis National CouncilFreeExternal
Métis Nation of OntarioFreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
Community Heritage Ontario Fire Insurance MapsFreeExternal
David Rumsey Map CollectionFreeExternal
Heir and Devisee Commission RecordsFreeFamilySearch
Land Records ListFreeOGS
Magill County AtlasFreeExternal
McMaster University Digital Map CollectionFreeExternal
ONLandFreeExternal
Ontario Heritage IndexFreeExternal
Ontario Historical Map ProjectFreeExternal
Ontario Land and Property RecordsFreeFamilySearch
Ontario Place LocatorFreeOGS
Township PapersFreeFamilySearch
Upper Canada Land Petitions 1763–1865FreeOGS
Vernon DirectoriesFreeOGS
ResourceAccessSource
Canadian War Museum Research CentreFreeExternal
Canadian War BridesFreeExternal
Canadian Military Heritage GatewayFreeGovernment of Canada
Canadian Military Heritage MuseumFreeExternal
Commonwealth War Graves CommissionFreeExternal
Great Canadian War ProjectFreeExternal
Korean Veterans Association of CanadaFreeExternal
Last Post — Canadian Legion MagazineFreeExternal
Memorial Project (OGS)FreeOGS
Military History — Library and Archives CanadaFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
Military History Landing Page — LACFreeLibrary & Archives Canada
ResourceAccessSource
Ancestor Hunt — Ontario Newspapers GuideFreeExternal
Canadian Genealogist 1979–1986FreeOGS
Canadiana — Historical Canadian PublicationsFreeExternal
INK Newspaper PortalFreeExternal
Last Post — Canadian Legion MagazineFreeExternal
Our OntarioFreeExternal
Periodical Source Index (PERSI)FreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
British Isles Family History Society of Greater OttawaFreeExternal
Dundas County ArchivesFreeExternal
Glengarry County ArchivesFreeExternal
Haliburton Highlands Genealogy GroupFreeExternal
Lake of the Woods MuseumFreeExternal
Lanark County Genealogical SocietyFreeExternal
Markham Berczy SettlersFreeExternal
Museum of DufferinFreeExternal
Muskoka & Parry Sound Genealogy GroupFreeExternal
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical SocietyFreeExternal
Upper Ottawa Valley Genealogical GroupFreeExternal
ResourceAccessSource
AO Research Guide — Estate RecordsFreeArchives of Ontario
AO Research Guide — Vital RecordsFreeArchives of Ontario
Birth, Marriage & Death Records in OntarioFreeOGS
County Marriage Registers 1858–1869FreeFamilySearch
Ontario Civil RegistrationFreeFamilySearch
OGS Provincial IndexFMP Subscriptionvia FindMyPast
Ontario Probate RecordsFreeFamilySearch
Strays DatabaseMembersOGS
TONI — Ontario Name IndexFreeOGS
Wesleyan Methodist Baptismal IndexFreeOGS
ResourceAccessSource
OGS Tools
TONI — Ontario Name IndexFreeOGS
OGS Library / Master CatalogueFreeOGS
MyHeritage PortalMembersOGS
Research FormsMembersOGS
Ontario Place LocatorFreeOGS
Vernon DirectoriesFreeOGS
Online Directories & Indexes
Archeion — Ontario Archives DirectoryFreeExternal
Cyndi’s ListFreeExternal
CanGen GenealogyFreeExternal
Wiki Ontario — FamilySearchFreeFamilySearch
Ontario Catalogue — FamilySearchFreeFamilySearch
Biographical Reference
Dictionary of Canadian Biography OnlineFreeExternal
The Canadian EncyclopediaFreeExternal
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE​
Research by Region​

Resources organized by where your ancestors lived. 

CROSS-CUTTING COLLECTIONS​
Specialized Collections​

Collections that span all regions and record types. Select a category to browse. 

ResourceAccessNote
National & Provincial Archives
Archives of ManitobaFree 
Archives of OntarioFree 
BANQ (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)Free 
British Columbia ArchivesFree 
Canadian Council of ArchivesFree 
Library and Archives CanadaFree 
Nova Scotia ArchivesFree 
Northwest Territories ArchivesFree 
Nunavut Archives ProgramFree 
Provincial Archives of AlbertaFree 
Provincial Archives of New BrunswickFree 
Provincial Archives of SaskatchewanFree 
Public Archives and Record Office of PEIFree 
The Rooms Archives (Newfoundland)Free 
Yukon ArchivesFree 
Archival Directories
Archeion — Ontario Archives ListFree 
Ontario Historical Society DirectoriesFree 
Occupational Archives
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario ArchivesFree 
Law Society of Ontario ArchivesFree 
Other
Bank of Canada ArchivesFree 
Exhibition Place Toronto ArchivesFree 
Glenbow Museum and ArchivesFree 
Hudson Bay Company ArchivesFree 
Maritime History ArchivesFree 
ResourceAccessNote
Source Lists
CanGen GenealogyFree 
Cyndi’s ListFree 
Internet ArchiveFree 
WorldCatFree 
Retail & Supplies
Carr McLean Archival SuppliesFree 
Global GenealogyFree 
Professional Researchers
Association of Professional Genealogists — Canada Chapter (APGCan)Free 
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)Free 
Reference & Tools
Occupations ReferenceFreeOGS — link to be added
Perpetual CalendarFreeOGS — link to be added
Weights and Measures ReferenceFreeOGS — link to be added
Additional Resources
One Name StudiesFree 
One Place StudiesFree 
ResourceAccessNote
General
Church Records (FamilySearch)Free
House of Worship Photo Collection (OGS)FreeOGS
Ontario Heritage Trust — Places of Worship DatabaseFree
Anglican
Anglican Diocese of Ottawa ArchivesFree
Archives of the Anglican Church of CanadaFree
Cathedral Church of St. James ArchivesFree
Trinity College ArchivesFree
Baptist
Atlantic Baptist ArchivesFree
Canadian Baptist ArchivesFree
Doukhobor
Doukhobor HeritageFree
Evangelical
Evangelical Christian Church of Canada (Christian Disciples)Free
Huguenot
Huguenot Collection (OGS)FreeOGS
Huguenot Society of Great Britain and IrelandFree
National Huguenot Society (USA)Free
Jewish
Canadian Jewish ArchivesFree
JewishGenFree
Jewish Genealogical Society of TorontoFree
Ontario Jewish ArchivesFree
Ottawa Jewish Historical SocietyFree
Lutheran
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada — Laurier ArchivesFree
Lutheran Church Canada — Central District ArchivesFree
Lutheran Church Canada — Eastern District Malinsky Memorial ArchivesFree
Wilfrid Laurier University Archives and Special CollectionsFree
Mennonite
Canadian Mennonite Genealogical ResourcesFree
Essex-Kent Mennonite Historical SocietyFree
Mennonite Archives of OntarioFree
Mennonite Heritage ArchivesFree
Methodist
Methodist records are held by the United Church of Canada Archives — see below
Pentecostal
Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada ArchivesFree
Presbyterian
Presbyterian Church ArchivesFree
Quaker
Canadian Friends AssociationFree
Quakers ArchiveFree
Roman Catholic
Archives of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of TorontoFree
Provincial Care ArchivesFree
RC Diocese of London — Clergy & Parish Histories (OGS)MembersOGS
Religious Hospitallers of St. JosephFree
Roman Catholic Diocese of HamiltonFree
Society of Jesus — Upper Canada Province (Jesuit)Free
Salvation Army
Salvation Army ArchivesFree
United Church (incl. Methodist)
United Church of Canada ArchivesFreeHolds Methodist records
Other Faiths
Muslims in Canada ArchivesFree
Sikh National Archives of CanadaFree
ResourceAccessNote
Specialty Databases
Atlas ObscuraFree
Asylum Patients StoriesFree
Avro ArrowFree
Bank of Canada — Unclaimed Bank AccountsFree
Canadian Music Periodic IndexFree
Canadian Olympic Hall of FameFree
Canadian Patents DatabaseFree
Convict Deaths at Kingston Penitentiary 1835–1915Free
Hockey Hall of FameFree
National Gallery of Canada Art DatabaseFree
Quilt IndexFree
Rural Diary ArchivesFree
Save Ontario ShipwrecksFree
Surname Groups
Bigelow SocietyFree
Doane Family AssociationFree
International Haskell Family AssociationFree
John Libby Family AssociationFree
One Place Studies
Columbus — Durham County, OntarioFree
Dummer — Peterborough County, OntarioFree
Little Britain — Victoria County, OntarioFree
OGS-ENDORSED RESOURCES
Partner & Supported Sites

External genealogy websites supported and endorsed by OGS. 

Ontario Family History

An Ontario Ancestors site with family and community histories.

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A Living Past — Town of Port Hope

Supported website for the Town of Port Hope community history.

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Ancestral Homes Network

Network of ancestral home histories and photographs.

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Brick Street Cemetery — London

Cemetery records for Brick Street Cemetery, London, Ontario.

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Canada Genweb Cemetery Project

Volunteer-maintained database of Canadian cemetery records.

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Canadian Families

Family tree and headstone database via Ontario Family History.

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Granny's Genealogy Garden

Family history resources and community history.

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Manitoulin Roots

Genealogy resources for Manitoulin Island families.

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Norcross Family History

Norcross family history site via Ontario Family History.

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Nursing Sister Isobel Connor

History and records of Nursing Sister Isobel Connor.

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APG Canada (APGCan)

Association of Professional Genealogists — Canadian chapter.

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SS Nerissa

History of the SS Nerissa and those aboard.

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Ottawa TMG User Group

Genealogist software user group, Ottawa chapter.

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